First Place – Taco Tontos

Best of Kent: Best Ethnic Food from KentWired.com on Vimeo.

Taco Tontos offers fresh, handmade Mexican cuisine with its burritos, tacos, burrito bowls and pizzaritos, just to name a few items on the menu.

Offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes, Taco Tontos is sure to satisfy taste buds.

One of their popular meals is the burrito, which is hand rolled and baked to crispy perfection with the choices of chicken, steak, beef, bean, sweet potato and more.

“Taco Tontos is one of my favorite spots to eat during break,”  Clevon Nicholson, an employee at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center said. “On nice days, I walk down to get my favorite burrito and relax for a bit. It’s totally worth it.”

Second Place – Fresco

Fresco is a Mexican grill and salsa bar. It’s “not your ordinary Mexican grill,” according to their standards. They use fresh ingredients that are prepared daily and made to order, as well as offer gluten-free and vegetarian dishes.

It is operated by a father and son from Northeast Ohio and is new to Kent. Delicious meals are offered on a daily basis. 

If you’re hungry for something delicious, grab a “Fajita Sante Fe,” which consists of two flour tortillas surrounded by a crispy corn tortilla filled with refried beans, grilled steak, sautéed pepper and onions, sour cream, Pico de Gallo salsa, their homemade queso and melted cheddar and jack cheese.

If you’re still hungry after that, check out their Mexican doughnuts which is a hot pastry dusted with powdered sugar and served with a side of sweet fruit nectar. 

Third Place – Laziza

“Laziza is a place where Mediterranean cuisine is redefined,” as told by Laziza’s menu. Offering appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, steaks, seafood and desserts, Laziza is the place for fine dining.

If it’s your first time ordering, try a “Beef Shawarma Wrap,” which is one of the popular dishes. It’s seasoned filet strips with onions, tomatoes, pickles, parsley and tahini sauce served in a pita and is bound to satisfy your taste buds.

If a snack is all you want, the hummus, which is a puree of chickpeas, fresh garlic, tahini sauce and lemon juice garnished with parsley and a splash of extra virgin olive oil, will not let you down either.

“It’s a great honor considering the amount of competition out there,” said Don Mishalan, general manager. “We offer a lot of different foods and are not what you’d expect in a college town.